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School-age exposure to conditional cash transfers and adult mental health: Evidence from Mexico’s Progresa

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Listed:
  • Clotilde Mahé
  • Philipp Hessel

Abstract

Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs have been shown to improve human capital and mental health in the short-run. However, it remains unclear whether those effects are long-lasting. Using data from Mexico, we test whether school-age exposure to the Progresa CCT program affects adult mental health. We exploit variation in the timing of the introduction of Progresa across municipalities before the program rollout, and compare adult mental health outcomes of cohorts that were differently exposed to Progresa transfers during expected schooling ages (5-17). Instrumental variables estimates reveal strong heterogeneity in the effect of Progresa exposure during schooling ages on adult mental health. A one standard deviation (SD) increase in per capita Progresa transfers in schooling ages implies a 1.64 and 1.87 percentage point decrease in self-reported mild anxiety among male and urban respondents during adulthood, respectively, equivalent to 0.08 and 0.07 SD effects, and a 0.69 (0.48) percentage point decrease in self-reported (severe) depression in rural areas, corresponding to a 0.06 (0.08) SD effect. In the longer term, Progresa exposure is also associated with more years of schooling, greater employability, and better self-rated health, possibly explaining the positive effect of the program on mental health we estimated. ***** Se ha demostrado que los programas de transferencias monetarias condicionadas (CCT, por sus siglas en inglés) mejoran el capital humano y la salud mental a corto plazo. Sin embargo, no es cierto que esos efectos permanezcan a largo del plazo. Usando datos de México, evaluamos si la exposición en edad escolar al programa de CCT Progresa afecta la salud mental de los adultos. Explotamos la variación del momento de entrada a Progresa en los municipios antes de la implementación del programa y comparamos los resultados de salud mental en adultos de cohortes expuestas de manera diferente a las transferencias durante las edades escolares (5 a 17 anos). Los resultados evidencian una alta heterogeneidad en el efecto de la exposición a Progresa durante las edades escolares sobre la salud mental en los adultos. Un aumento de una desviación estándar (SD, por sus siglas en inglés) en las transferencias per cápita de Progresa en edades escolares implica una disminución de 1,64 y 1,87 puntos porcentuales en la ansiedad entre los encuestados masculinos y urbanos durante la edad adulta, respectivamente, equivalente a efectos de 0,08 y 0,07 SD, y una disminución de 0,69 (0,48) puntos porcentuales en la depresión (grave) en las zonas rurales, lo que corresponde a un efecto de 0,06 (0,08) SD. A más largo plazo, la exposición a Progresa también se asocia con más anos de escolaridad, mayor empleabilidad y mejor salud subjetiva, lo que posiblemente explique el efecto positivo del programa sobre la salud mental que obtenemos.

Suggested Citation

  • Clotilde Mahé & Philipp Hessel, 2022. "School-age exposure to conditional cash transfers and adult mental health: Evidence from Mexico’s Progresa," Documentos de trabajo 20155, Escuela de Gobierno - Universidad de los Andes.
    • Handle: RePEc:col:000547:020155
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transferencias monetarias condicionadas; salud mental; México; AméricaLatina;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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